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Hamilton County Election Board removes multiple primary candidates over voting-history rule
Summary
On Feb. 19, 2026, the Hamilton County Election Board sustained challenges and removed several candidates from the 2026 primary ballot after finding they lacked the required two recent Republican primary vote histories; the board also sustained a residency-based removal for one Democratic precinct committeeperson filing and denied a separate delegate challenge.
The Hamilton County Election Board voted Feb. 19, 2026, to remove multiple candidates from the upcoming 2026 primary ballot after sustaining challenges that they did not meet the board’s requirement of two recent Republican primary vote histories. Member Greg Purvis made each removal motion and Clerk Kathy Williams seconded; the board recorded the motions as passed.
The board sustained challenges and removed Harrison J. Massonne, who had filed for the Republican Cicero Town Council at-large seat; Ellen Cortrecht, who filed as a Republican state convention delegate for Noblesville District 2; Misty Warren, who filed for the Republican Atlanta Town Council at-large seat; and Alexander Stencel, a Republican state convention delegate filer for Clay District 1. The transcript shows Cortrecht told the board she had one Republican primary voting history and that a requested Republican absentee ballot in 2016 was rejected after it never arrived.
The board also removed several candidates who were not present at the hearing after challenges that they lacked two recent Republican primary votes. Those candidates listed by the board were Brad Craig (Republican, coroner and state convention delegate, Clay District 2), Will Haines (state convention delegate, Clay District 2), Amy Lindquist (state convention delegate, Noblesville District 3), Dana Webster (state convention delegate, Noblesville District 2), JP Etchison (state convention delegate, Noblesville District 1) and Robert Fulk (state convention delegate, Clay District 4). Member Purvis moved to sustain challenges and remove the listed absent candidates; Clerk Williams seconded and the motion passed.
Board members recorded that the basis for most removals was the same: each challenged candidate lacked two Republican primary vote histories in the most recent primaries in which the candidate had voted. Candidates present offered brief explanations: Massonne said he planned to prioritize voting in future primaries; Stencel described a Republican background and said he has voting history in Illinois but not yet in Indiana; Cortrecht cited an attempted absentee ballot in 2016 that was rejected.
The board did not provide roll-call vote tallies in the transcript; each motion is recorded in the minutes as “motion passed.” The board’s actions change the list of qualified candidates on the 2026 primary ballot; the board did not state any further administrative review or appeal outcomes in the provided minutes.
The meeting adjourned at 1:31 p.m.
